Obaseki’s Former Ally Says Edo Needs Competence, Not Zoning For Redemption

Immediate past Commissioner for Communication and orientation In Edo State and Convener of the Rescue Edo Movement (REM),Hon Andrew Adaze Emwanta, says that parties governorship candidates should emerge on the basis of competence, capacity and pedigree and not on the basis of zoning.

Emwanta, speaking at a press conference in Abuja, under the aegis of Rescue Edo Movement (REM) said that marginalization of senatorial zones, which zoning should have cured, was not a peculiar problem in Edo State.

According to him, “On the issue of zoning, it is the view of the Rescue Edo Movement that in the past, we have had a Benin (Edo South), Esan (Edo Central) and Etsako (Edo north) person elected into the office of Governor, without any form of marginalisation recorded.

“The seat of Government in our dear State is located at Osadebey Avenue in GRA Benin city. The following is the breakdown of how the governorship position has moved among the three major ethnic groups in the State: Prof. Ambrose Alli (Edo Central) 1979 – 1983; Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia (Edo South) October 1983 – December 1983; Dr. John Odigie Oyegun(Edo South) January 1992 to November 1993; Chief. Lucky Igbinedion (Edo South) 1999 – 2007; Prof. Oserhiemen Osunbor (Edo Central); May 2007 to November 2008; Comrade Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North); 2008 – 2016; Mr. Godwin Obaseki (Edo South); 2016 till date.”

He said that an analysis or a breakdown of how the critical stakeholders in the state had benefitted from the governorship showed that Edo South had so far produced 4 governors, Edo Central had produced 2 while Edo North had produced 1.

Emwanta said that the REM would heavily discount the proposal for the 2024 guber slot to be ceded to any particular zone, maintaining that the group was calling on relevant authorities and stakeholders to provide a level play-field to all governorship aspirants.

“We should all emphasize competence, capacity, and pedigree. These and others should guide us to make the right decision in 2024,” he said.

He expressed concerns that Edo State was at a crossroads, looking for redemption, even as he called on men and women of goodwill that the Almighty God had inspired to stand up to provide leadership for the people.

“We will search for a person who has what it takes to lift Edo State from its present state of arrested development. It is our considered and well-thought-out position that it is time for electoral renaissance in Edo. We cannot be held down by the primordial fault-lines. We will do everything that is possible, within the constitutional limits, to reclaim our State from the jaws of those who have tried to swallow it up,” he stated.

Emwanta had decried what he described as the state of “arrested development”, saying that “As we move into the electoral season of the 2024 governorship election in Edo State, it has become imperative for us to address the press on certain topical issues that will help Edo people to make a right choice.

“As of today, it is sad to note that the security and welfare of the people, as envisaged by the drafters of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution, are no longer the primary purpose of government in Edo State.

“Edo State now operates a single tier of government, as what is supposed to be a democratically elected Local Government system in the State has been reduced into a bunch of glorified political appointees of the governor.

“While other states in Nigeria are celebrating visible development in critical sectors, Edo State is experiencing visible underdevelopment in almost every sector.”

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